# 2020 FireKeepers Casino 400

The 2020 FireKeepers Casino 400 is a NASCAR Cup Series race that was originally scheduled to be held on June 7, 2020, at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan, but moved to August 8, 2020, and to be held over 500 kilometers (312 miles), shortened by 44 laps from the original distance because of modified NASCAR rules for doubleheader races, one of three Cup Series events to be run under the doubleheader format. It was the 21st race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season.
During both Michigan races that season Reed Sorenson ran a special #74 Fake Steak sponsored car fielded by Spire Motorsports that was used to gather footage that was used in the 2021 Netflix sitcom The Crew. Despite being used for filming he was officially classified as being in the race and finished 30th.

## Report
### Background

The race was held at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located in Brooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas World Speedway, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is owned by International Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).

#### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 00 | Quin Houff (R) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Joey Gase (i) | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Tyler Reddick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet |
| 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | Brennan Poole (R) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 27 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 32 | Corey LaJoie | Go Fas Racing | Ford |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | Matt Kenseth | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | James Davison | Petty Ware Racing | Ford |
| 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 74 | Reed Sorenson | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 95 | Christopher Bell (R) | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota |
| 96 | Daniel Suárez | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota |
| Official entry list ||||

## Qualifying

Joey Logano was awarded the pole for the race as determined by a random draw.

### Starting Lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 3 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 4 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 6 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 7 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 8 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 10 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 12 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 13 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 14 | 8 | Tyler Reddick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 16 | 41 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 17 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 20 | 42 | Matt Kenseth | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 21 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 22 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 23 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 25 | 00 | Quin Houff (R) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 26 | 27 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 27 | 15 | Brennan Poole (R) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 51 | James Davison | Petty Ware Racing | Ford |
| 29 | 95 | Christopher Bell (R) | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota |
| 30 | 74 | Reed Sorenson | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 38 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 32 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 34 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet |
| 35 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 36 | 32 | Corey LaJoie | Go Fas Racing | Ford |
| 37 | 96 | Daniel Suárez | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota |
| 38 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 39 | 7 | Joey Gase (i) | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Chevrolet |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race
### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 40
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||
Stage Two Laps: 45
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 71
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 3 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 161 | 60 |
| 2 | 5 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 161 | 47 |
| 3 | 12 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 161 | 34 |
| 4 | 11 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 161 | 50 |
| 5 | 7 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 161 | 39 |
| 6 | 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 161 | 48 |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 161 | 33 |
| 8 | 1 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 161 | 29 |
| 9 | 24 | 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 161 | 28 |
| 10 | 10 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 161 | 38 |
| 11 | 23 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 161 | 38 |
| 12 | 17 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 161 | 26 |
| 13 | 29 | 95 | Christopher Bell (R) | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota | 161 | 24 |
| 14 | 19 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 161 | 23 |
| 15 | 15 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 161 | 22 |
| 16 | 4 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 161 | 21 |
| 17 | 20 | 42 | Matt Kenseth | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 161 | 20 |
| 18 | 14 | 8 | Tyler Reddick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 161 | 19 |
| 19 | 9 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 161 | 20 |
| 20 | 22 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 161 | 17 |
| 21 | 6 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 161 | 23 |
| 22 | 36 | 32 | Corey LaJoie | Go Fas Racing | Ford | 161 | 15 |
| 23 | 34 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet | 161 | 14 |
| 24 | 37 | 96 | Daniel Suárez | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota | 161 | 13 |
| 25 | 35 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 161 | 12 |
| 26 | 26 | 27 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 161 | 0 |
| 27 | 25 | 00 | Quin Houff (R) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 161 | 10 |
| 28 | 13 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 161 | 9 |
| 29 | 21 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 161 | 8 |
| 30 | 30 | 74 | Reed Sorenson | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 161 | 7 |
| 31 | 18 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 161 | 6 |
| 32 | 32 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 161 | 6 |
| 33 | 38 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 159 | 0 |
| 34 | 16 | 41 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 148 | 3 |
| 35 | 33 | 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 141 | 0 |
| 36 | 31 | 38 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 127 | 1 |
| 37 | 27 | 15 | Brennan Poole (R) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 125 | 1 |
| 38 | 28 | 51 | James Davison | Petty Ware Racing | Ford | 103 | 1 |
| 39 | 39 | 7 | Joey Gase (i) | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Chevrolet | 68 | 0 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 12 among 7 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 9 for 43
* Red flags: 1 for 5 minutes and 45 seconds
* Time of race: 2 hours, 34 minutes and 55 seconds
* Average speed: 124.712 miles per hour (200.705 km/h)

## Media
### Television

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and two-time Michigan winner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. covered the race from the booth at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast handled the pit road duties on site.
NBCSN :
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve Letarte Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Marty Snider Kelli Stavast |

### Radio

Radio coverage of the race was broadcast by Motor Racing Network (MRN) and simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle called the race in the booth while the field is racing on the front stretch. Dave Moody called the race from a billboard outside of turn 2 when the field is racing through turns 1 and 2. Kyle Rickey called the race from a platform outside of turn 3 when the field races through turns 3 and 4. Winston Kelley and Kim Coon worked pit road for the radio side.
MRN :
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Jeff Striegle | Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody Turns 3 & 4: Kyle Rickey | Winston Kelley Kim Coon |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Kevin Harvick | 863 |
| | 2 | Brad Keselowski | 769 (–94) |
| | 3 | Denny Hamlin | 736 (–127) |
| | 4 | Ryan Blaney | 735 (–128) |
| | 5 | Chase Elliott | 693 (–170) |
| | 6 | Joey Logano | 682 (–181) |
| | 7 | Martin Truex Jr. | 682 (–181) |
| | 8 | Aric Almirola | 635 (–228) |
| | 9 | Kurt Busch | 619 (–244) |
| | 10 | Kyle Busch | 602 (–261) |
| | 11 | Alex Bowman | 584 (–279) |
| | 12 | Clint Bowyer | 532 (–331) |
| | 13 | Matt DiBenedetto | 531 (–332) |
| | 14 | William Byron | 507 (–356) |
| 3 | 15 | Erik Jones | 491 (–372) |
| 1 | 16 | Tyler Reddick | 488 (–375) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Ford | 788 |
| 2 | Toyota | 735 (–53) |
| 3 | Chevrolet | 696 (–92) |